WORK has begun to upgrade the tennis courts in Melksham as part of Wiltshire Council’s £23 million community campus project.

The old grass courts near Melksham House are being replaced by two new hard courts, so tennis fans can enjoy the sport year-round.

It will mean Melksham Tennis Club then has four hard courts, with new LED floodlighting and fencing, alongside the cricket pitch and bowling green planned for the campus.

Most of Melksham House’s free car park will stay open during the works, which are expected to take four-six weeks.

During this time the front of Melksham House will be used as a site compound, but the remainder of the car park will be fully accessible for free parking as usual.

Cllr John Thomson, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for communities and leisure, said: “The new tennis courts marks another milestone in the delivery of the Melksham Campus.”

Club chairman Tricia Crapnell said: “I started this project in 2007 and I would like to see it through to completion.” The club is hoping to rebuild membership once the work is complete.

Work by Chiltern Sports Contractors is expected to take around four to six weeks to complete.

The designs for Melksham Community Campus are at an advanced stage and include a six-lane swimming pool and a learner pool, fitness suite, dance studio, library and community hub, sports hall, a café and office space.

This will be in addition to the cricket pitch, outdoor bowls and the new tennis courts, which will be located on the Melksham House site.

Earlier in the month Wiltshire Council held two well attended public information drop-in days to speak to people about the plans and answer any questions.

A planning application for the project will be submitted by the end of March. A decision on the planning application is expected by the end of August this year.

If the application is approved then construction work is expected to start in early 2020. The project is due to be completed by mid-2021.